About Theory of Change
Lots of people want to change the world. But how does change happen? History is filled with stories of people and institutions that spent big and devoted many resources to effect change but have little to show for it. By contrast, many societal developments have happened without forethought from anyone. And of course, change can be negative as well as positive.
In each episode of this weekly program, Theory of Change host Matthew Sheffield delves deep with guests to discuss larger trends in politics, religion, media, and technology.
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To make a better future, we must first realize why we didn’t get the one we were promised
Author Richard Barbrook talks about the failed promises of tech liberation, neoliberalism, and the ‘Californian Ideology’
Many older comedians would rather attack the audience than update their material
Comedian Lisa Curry discusses why some standup comics are crying ‘cancel culture’ instead of coming up with new jokes
Male popular culture is obsolete, and men are suffering because of it
Men’s support group leader Brandon Bradford says many men are feeling lonely because society never taught them sustainable mental health
What makes Trump supporters change their minds about him?
Filmmaker Melissa Jo Peltier discusses her documentary about disillusioned Trump voters, “The Game Is Up”
America’s public libraries are facing an epidemic of censorship
Jonathan Friedman of PEN America tells how far-right activists are trying to silence LGBT and progressive authors
After envisioning themselves as centrists, tech billionaires like Elon Musk have moved to the far right
Writers Jacob Silverman and Chris Lehmann discuss Twitter, cryptocurrency, and libertarian radicalization
Will defamation lawsuits be the apocalypse of (Alex) Jones?
Legal analyst Liz Dye discusses how the U.S. legal system is finally holding conspiracy millionaire Alex Jones to account
Many Black Americans don’t actually like Democrats, what does that mean for politics in the long-term?
Author Brandi Collins-Dexter discusses her book Black Skinhead and the varieties of Black political experience
EWTN, a TV channel founded by a cloistered nun, has quietly become a right-wing media juggernaut
Slate writer Molly Olmstead on how EWTN and the Catholic right are spending big to shift public opinion
Politics has changed drastically in the past 10 years, why are Democrats still running the same plays?
New Republic writer Alex Shephard discusses the larger implications of Joe Biden’s low approval ratings
Americans want progressive change, but to be able to deliver it, progressives will need to change first
Progressive strategist Max Berger on why the American left needs to focus on building institutions and making its case
Extremist groups are targeting state and local officials for harassment and intimidation
Right-wing extremism researcher David Neiwert discloses how groups are trying to force their viewpoints in cities and schools
Big finance and corporate monopolies have blocked the original promise of the internet
Technology activist and author Cory Doctorow discusses 30 years of the Worldwide Web
How right-wing media became the glue that holds the Republican party together
Historian Nicole Hemmer discusses how reactionary media have radicalized millions of Americans since the 1940s